Milk pail cover



March 3, 1936;

F. w. MOORE MIL-K PAIL COVER Filed April 21, 1935 Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,032,375 MILK PAIL COVER Frank W. Moore, Lennon, Mich. Application April 21, 1933,Y Serial No. 867,276.

3 Claims. (Cl. 31-50) o This inventio-n relates to an improved milk pail cover and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character which is particularly adapted for use when milking and is intended for protecting the clothes of the milker from spattering during the milking operation.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide a milk pail cover wherein a bead is employed so that if excess milk drips on thev cover, such milk will be conducted over the edge of the pail and to the ground without coming in contact withl and soiling the milkers clothes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a milk pail cover wherein means are employed for effectually retaining said cover in position on a pail so that accidental displacement of the cover from the pail will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide adevice of this character which may be readily removed from the pail for purposes of sterilization so thatV danger of contamination of the co'ntents of the pail will be reduced to a minimum.

A still further object ofY the invention is to provide a milk pail cover which will'be of simple and very rugged construction so that it will retain its shape. l Y A still further object of the invention is to provide a milk pail cover wherein the latchemployed may be quickly engaged and disengaged from the rim of a pail.

It is believed that other objects will be apparent upon further reading of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of my application,

, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my Ydevice as it would appear installed on a pail,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of my device on a pail, the view being taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the latch employed, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View showing the latch as it would appear in disengaged position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that my pail cover includes a preferably sheet metal plate l which is substantially crescent shaped and is adapted to cover the major portion of a pail 2, which pail is provided with a rolled .bead 3 at its upper rim. As best seen in Figure 2 .of the drawing, the plate I is dished upwardly to assume a substantially concavo-convex cross section throughout the greater portion of its diameter. The plate `l is provided with a at margin 4 and connecting the margin 5` with the concave-convex portion is a raised bead 5. The flat margin is adapted closely to overlie the upper extremity of the bead 3 so that the contents of the pail will not be permitted to splash .outwardly between the margin 4 and the 10 bead 3. The plate l is provided with an upstand ing arcuate inner flange 6 and said plateis also, immediately rearwardly of said upstanding iiange 6, pressed to provide a depressed groove 1. Immediately rearwardly of the groove 1, the plate I is pressed outwardly. to define a reinforcing bead 8. The flange 6, the groove 'l and the beads 8 and 5 cooperate toprovide reinforcement for the plate so that bending will be largely prevented. As stated in the objects of the invention, the plate is particularly adapted for protecting thewearing Vapparel of the niilker holding the pail between his legs during theY milking operation. The upstanding iiange 6, the groove 1, and the bead 8, will cooperate, in addition to providing reinforcement, to conduct an excess amount of milk, which may have gathered on the upper surface ofthe plate, to flow over the edge of the pail and to the ground so that danger of soiling the clothes of the milker will be largely eliminated. Furthermore, as the milk conducted over the edge of the pail, such milk will not be permitted to enter the pail and mingle with the milk already in the pail. It will be seen, therefore, that the danger of contamination of the 35 milk will be largely prevented.

Riveted, -or otherwise secured, tof the margin 4, immediately rearwardly of the ange 6, .are

vpreferably two spring clips which are indicated in general bythe numeral 9. Inasmuch as the clipsv are identical in construction, a description Aof one will suffice for both. The spring clips: are

provided with Ya at portion lil whchis secured to the inner extremity of the margin 4 with its inner end abutting the bead 5.. The clip is bowed upwardly medially ofthe width of vthe Amargin 4 and then is bent to a substantially circular shape, as indicatedV by the numeral Il so that the .'clip will clear the outer edge of the margin. As best seen inFigure 3 of the drawing, the freeend of 50. the clip is adapted to engage under the bead 3. The clips are preferably formed from at strips of spring steel and are of sufficient strength to withstand all normal wear, and as 4will be' observed, the. clips. will retain`v the forward..vp`or.tion

of the plate in close abutting relation to the bead 3. As the clips are of such formation that the bowed portion II clears the outer edge of the margin 4, the clip will tend to retain the margin in close abutting relation to the bead, even when the plate is shifted axially on the pail. In other words,'the clips will resiliently connect the margin with the bead so that lateral shifting of the plate may be effected.

Mounted on the margin 4 of the plate, medially between the clips 9, is a strip I2 which is preferably formed'of sheet metal and is provided with a depending tongue I3. The tongue I3, as best seen in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, is adapted to overhang the outer edge of the bead 3'. Overlying the strip I2 is a latch mounting plate I4 which is rolled at its outer edge to form a hinge loop I5. 'Ihe hinge loop is, as bestv seen in Figure 4, disposed directly above the free edge of the margin 4. The plate I4 and the strip I2 are secured to the marginA 4 by `means 'of rivets I 6. SWi-ngingly connectedwith the looplY I-51of the latch mounting plate I4 is a latch handle I'I which is provided with an upturnedA outer end Aportion I8 to facilitate manual engagement.v The latch handle is provided at its inner end with a cut-out portion whichV is rolled to form a `loop- I9 which is pressed upwardly and away fromv the plane of the handle I"I-. Loops, which are slightly bent downwardly, are indicated by the numeral 20, and the loopsr20 are hingedly connected to the loop I5 by meansv of a hinge pin 2|.. Hingedly connected with the loop I9 is aY latch member 22 whichis stamped to define loops 23 and 24 which straddle the loop I9. The latch member is hingedly connected tothe loopY I9 by means of a hingerpin 25. As best. seen in Figure 4 of the drawing, the latch member 22 is provided with a curved lower end portion 26 which is'adapted to engage beneath the bead 3 of the pail 2. The latch member 22 will Voverhang the depending tongue I3. As indicated in dotted lines, the tongue may be bent-outwardly for controlling grip of the latch member on the bead. Also the dependingrtongue I3 provides a stop lfor the handle I1, as when said handle is swung upwardly, the loopv I9` will be swung into engagement with the tongue` I3 and will therefore limit. downward travel of saidvhandle. rLfhe depending tongue I 3, asstated, maybe bent so that the device maybe utilized on pails of slightly varying sizes.V vIt should be stated, in this connection, that the formation of the clips 9`- is such that the margin 4 will-be permitted to seat upon pails of different sizes. Y

In Vuse, after the device is 'placedz on a pail, the spring clips 8 will engage beneaththe bead3 and will retain the device in iirm position on the pail. The curved lower end portion 26 of the latch member 22 will be engaged beneath the bead 3. The handle II will be positioned vertically during this operation. After the portion 26 has been seated beneath. the bead, the handle I'I is swung inwardly to overlie the margin 4 of the plateV and project above theconcavo-convex portion thereof. When this is done the latch member is slightly raised for clamping the plate on the pail. The clips VIl willv prevent rearward lateral movement ofthe'device on the `pail and the latch will, when in latched position, .preventforward lateral movement of the device, and both of said clips and said latch will cooperate for preventing upward movement of the device, so that it will be seen that the deviceis firmly anchored in position on the pail; When it is desired to remove the device, Athefhandle I7 isswungrearwardly. and upwardly for disengaging the portion 26 of the latch member 22 so that forward lateral movement, With consequent disengagement of the spring clips 9, will be permitted. The removal of the .device will then be permitted.

The flange 6 will not only serve to provide reinforcement for the forward arcuate edge of the plate, but will alsol prevent foreign substances from entering the pail. By closely observing Figure 1, it will be seen that the corners of the plate connecting the opposite ends of the arcuate edge with the circumference slightly project outwardly and over the edge of the pail. This construction is necessary and advantageous to permit foreign matter, fiowing from the top of the plate in the groove 1, to clear the bead and thus be prevented from entering the pail or flowing against the milkers clothing. YIt will be understood that the ange 6 will cooperate with the bead 5. the bead 8 and the groove 1 for eiiectually reinforcing the'plate so that bending of said plate out Yof line will be largely prevented. A `firrnseating of the margin on the bead 3 of 'the pail will, therefore, be insured. Y I

It is emphasized that, 'when the pail is held between the legs during a milking operation. danger of spattering of milk on the clothes of the milker will be eliminated.

When my improved device -ls used with a. strainer, it may be adapted thereto in such -an easy manner that effectual straining of the milk, with negligible loss thereof will be permitted.

It is believed that from the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a highly sanitary and very effective milk pail cover which will efectually protect the garments of the milker and which will, at the same time,rprevent milk von the lid from flowing into the pailso that danger of contamination of the milk in thev pail will be largely obviated.

YHaving thus described my invention, I- claim:

Y 1. A cover for a milk pail comprising a crescent shaped plate having al substantially semi-circular peripheral'edge and an arcuate chordal edge, end portions of the peripheral edge being-flared' outwardly from a true circular path to provide Yextended corner portions for extending outwardly from sides of a pail whenl the cover is set inplace upon the pail, a ange extending upwardly along the chordal edge of said plate with its'end intersecting ends of the peripheral edge, said plate having a concavo-convexed portion bordered Vby a. substantially flat marginal portion havingV the peripheral edge of the plate as its outer edge, -an upstanding bead beingA provided along theintersection of the concavo-convexedlportionand marginal portion with itsrends abutting the upstanding flange, the cancavo-convexed portion being formed vwith an upstanding bead in spacedpar'allel'relation to said Aflange and between the flange and bead being depressed to form an external groove, the groove, ange and beadsrserving to reinforcev the plate and the grooveialso serving to' direct milk spattered over the flange toward extended corners ofthe cover, and means vcarried by the fiat marginal portions of the plate forde-` pending from its' outer portion of a length 'to' 75 extend downwardly against the bead of a pail when the cover is in place, a mounting plate overlying said strip, a handle pivoted to said mounting plate, and a latch pivoted to said handle and being of a length to extend downwardly below said tongue to engage under the bead of a pail, said tongue being bendable away from the bead of the pail for engaging the latch and controlling grip of the latch on the bead of the pail.

3. A cover for a milk pail comprising a plate having a substantially iiat marginal portion, a mounting plate secured at upon the marginal portion of the cover radially thereof, said mounting plate having a hinge ear at its outer end, a

handle having hinge ears at one end straddling the hinge ear of said mounting plate, a pin extending through the hinge ears of the mounting plate and handle to pivotally connect the handle with the mounting plate, a tongue carried by said handle between its hinge ears and resting upon the hinge ear of the mounting plate, and a latch consisting of a strip of resilient material pivoted at one end to the tongue of said handle and being curved longitudinally to provide the latch with 10 a longitudinally curved shank portion merging into an arcuate bill.

FRANK W. MOORE. 

